YOUR GUIDE TO HIRING APPRENTICE WALES 1

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1 YOUR GUIDE TO HIRING AN APPRENTICE WALES 1

2 PROTECTING THE TRADE S FUTURE Apprenticeships have always been important to me. I personally believe that opening up ways for new talent to enter the industry is essential. Whenever we talk to our trade customers in Wales, they tell us about the need for more skilled workers and how important a new generation of skilled tradespeople is for the future. It s crucial that we all work together to support apprentices, their trainers and the companies hiring them. We have worked with the Welsh Government to create this guide. It is designed to show you just how easy it is to hire an apprentice. We really hope it helps, it may be simpler than you think. At Screwfix, we re always looking for ways to help UK tradespeople grow their businesses and ultimately protect the future of the trade. One of the ways they can do this is by taking on apprentices or training existing staff as apprentices. 2 Graham Bell, CEO of Screwfix

3 IS AN APPRENTICE FOR YOU? Could an apprentice help you? Build an enthusiastic workforce Boost your team productivity Create time to pursue new business Could you help an apprentice? Bridge key skills gaps Help them to gain confidence Give them a skill for life 3

4 4 THE APPRENTICESHIP MATCHING SERVICE

5 THE APPRENTICESHIP MATCHING SERVICE ON CAREERSWALES.COM IS THE ONLINE RECRUITMENT HOME FOR APPRENTICESHIPS IN WALES, OFFERING A FREE SERVICE TO HELP EMPLOYERS FIND A SUITABLE APPRENTICE FOR THIER BUSINESS. FREE Advertising platform for quality apprenticeship vacancies within your business View all applicants for positions that can be applied for nationally by thousands of candidates Carry out shortlisting and organise pre-interview tests and checks 12 MONTHS Send out invitations to applicants for interview Accept and reject applicants Helpful Tip: Many learning providers offer to manage this system on your behalf. Ask them about this when you call to discuss your training needs For more information, visit careerswales.com or phone between 9am -6pm, Monday - Friday 5

6 LEARNING PROVIDERS QUALITY ASSURED AND APPROVED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS A COLLEGE OR TRAINING COMPANY HELP DELIVER TRAINING WITH APPROVAL FROM THE WELSH GOVERNMENT. Receive funding to pay for the cost of training and assessment via the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund. Note: You may be asked to contribute On the job training at employer s premises and employer training partner at either a local college or specialist learning provider Once selected, training providers help complete paperwork, provide support during recruitment process and agree a suitable date for apprentice training to start For a full list of learning providers throughout Wales, visit the Business Wales Skills Gateway at 6

7 WORKING WITH AN APPRENTICE When you employ an apprentice, you re in a position of responsibility to that person. Taking on an apprentice means you must, at the very least: Actively promote the value of apprenticeships within the organisation, ensuring that staff are fully aware of the needs of the apprentice Employ and, as a minimum, pay the apprentice in accordance with National Minimum Wage requirements Make sure the apprentice has a contract of employment Undertake the legal and contractual responsibilities for the Health and Safety of the apprentice Ensure conformity with equal opportunities legislation and good practice Provide at least 16 hours of paid work and training per week. Ensure that sufficient time and resources are available to fulfil the learning and assessment needs of the apprentice Actively contribute to the regular review of the apprentice s progress 7

8 BECOMING AN APPRENTICE IS THE BEST DECISION I HAVE MADE. I HOPE TO BE A REAL AMBASSADOR TO OTHERS AND HIGHLIGHT WHAT A GREAT JOB BEING IN THE TRADE IS 12 William Ellis, Apprentice Bench Joiner and Screwfix Trade Apprentice Winner 2017

9 WELSH LANGUAGE AND BILINGUAL APPRENTICESHIPS DID YOU KNOW THAT APPRENTICESHIPS CAN BE STUDIED IN ENGLISH, WELSH OR EVEN BILINGUALLY, DEPENDING ON THE EMPLOYER S NEEDS? THERE ARE BUSINESS BENEFITS TO EMPLOYERS WHO USE THE WELSH LANGUAGE, SUCH AS: Providing a Welsh service to Welsh speakers can improve customer service Using the Welsh language sets companies aside from the rest Providing a Welsh service can be a company s unique selling point Attracts new customers and increases customer loyalty Assists in expanding your target market 9

10 APPRENTICE MYTHS We asked tradespeople for their thoughts on apprenticeships. IT TAKES TOO MUCH TIME TO TRAIN AN APPRENTICE 49% of tradespeople think it takes a lot of time to train an apprentice They will learn a lot of skills off-site which they then apply on-site. Having an extra pair of hands can be a significant benefit. 71% of tradespeople won t hire an apprentice due to perceived risks While it is a commitment, you can cover your business with an Apprenticeship Agreement, or you can use an Apprenticeship Training Agency who will take on all of the risks involved. THERE S TOO MUCH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH HIRING AN APPRENTICE 10

11 60% of tradespeople state they have never needed an apprentice This may be true for a company of 50+ but if you re a small operation, hiring an apprentice could be extremely useful. Plus, the majority of tradespeople are keen to hire their apprentices as full-time members of staff when their training is complete. I VE NEVER NEEDED AN APPRENTICE WON T IT COST TOO MUCH? HIRING AN APPRENTICE IS TOO DIFFICULT 34% of tradespeople believe hiring an apprentice will cost too much You must pay your apprentice at least the minimum wage but there is financial assistance available, so it s worth looking into what s on offer. 46% of tradespeople believe the process is difficult Hiring an apprentice can actually be very simple more than half of tradespeople who have hired one said the process was easier than they thought. Quotes taken from Screwfix Trade Apprentice Research

12 A WORD FROM JULIE JAMES Julie James, Minister for Skills and Science, Welsh Government By offering apprenticeships, businesses are not only helping their own business to grow but are making an invaluable contribution to boosting our economy and making sure our future workforce is equipped with the right skills to make sure Wales remains competitive. The Welsh Government aims to create at least 100,000 apprenticeships over the next 5 years to make sure people s skills align with what the economy needs. There are over 120 apprenticeship frameworks in Wales and the range of industries that offer apprenticeships is now bigger than ever. Wales has developed a highly successful apprenticeship programme over the last few years. Built in partnership 12

13 with Welsh businesses the programmes have a strong focus on the quality of delivery. Apprenticeships are highly valued by both employers and apprentices and our framework success rates are consistently over 80%. Careers Wales and employers, will prove to employers that hiring apprentices makes strong business sense and is easier than you think. Apprenticeships help individuals gain valuable on the job experience while studying towards a nationally recognised qualification. By recruiting apprentices you can shape your future workforce to suit the needs and culture of your organisation. Training an apprentice is also more cost effective than hiring pre-skilled staff, leading to lower overall training and recruitment cost. I hope this guide, alongside other resources provided by the Welsh Government, 13

14 IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS......or need any support in hiring your apprentice, it s worth visiting the Business Wales Gateway website or having a chat with the Business Wales helpline on , quoting Screwfix when you call. You can also businesssupport@wales.gsi. gov.uk. To download a digital copy of this guide, visit screwfix.com/apprenticeguide 14

15 If you have any questions or are after any support in hiring your apprentice, contact Careers Wales on and quote Screwfix To download a digital copy of this guide, visit Screwfix.com/apprenticeguide